Donating an Official Position

That night, Wang Jingyuan swaggered into Yue Buqun's room, just as Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze were having an intimate conversation. Seeing Wang Jingyuan visit, neither of them was annoyed; instead, they invited him to sit at the table.

The thing Yue Buqun was most grateful for now was seizing the opportunity that was Wang Jingyuan. In less than half a year since "joining" Mount Hua, Wang Jingyuan had already accomplished many things for the sect.

His trip to Fuzhou City, in particular, had surprised Yue Buqun the most. Originally, his focus had been on the Bixie Swordplay. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone understood that by sending someone so far to obstruct the Qingcheng Sect's plan to obtain the Bixie Swordplay, he himself had harbored some hope of benefiting from the situation.

In the current Jianghu, who didn't know that the Bixie Swordplay was voluntarily given to the Mount Hua Sect by the Fuwei Escort Agency as a gift? Although this swordplay had significant drawbacks, it was still a fallback option.

Furthermore, after discovering that Wang Jingyuan valued the Fuwei Escort Agency itself more than the Bixie Swordplay, Yue Buqun and his wife had spent the past few days meticulously studying the business plan Wang Jingyuan had written. Yue Buqun, being a scholar, understood basic arithmetic.

He was shocked when he started calculating. No wonder Wang Jingyuan placed such importance on cooperating with the Fuwei Escort Agency. If the plan in Wang Jingyuan's proposal were truly executed, the Fuwei Escort Agency would experience unprecedented growth, and the Mount Hua Sect, as the largest shareholder, would be like a hen laying golden eggs.

In this era, while the martial prowess of a sect was undoubtedly important, money, once it reached a certain amount, also became a force to be reckoned with. Therefore, although Yue Buqun had initially approached Wang Jingyuan with a degree of skepticism, he was now genuinely grateful.

Thus, Yue Buqun asked about the purpose of Wang Jingyuan's visit with a pleasant expression, while Ning Zhongze had already begun peeling fruit for him.

Wang Jingyuan was direct and asked about Yue Buqun's visit to the Liu residence that day: "When you met Liu Zhengfeng today, did he say anything?"

Yue Buqun replied truthfully: "There was nothing unusual. We simply exchanged pleasantries, and then he insisted we stay for lunch. During the meal, he forced himself to keep us company, but he didn't say anything special."

Wang Jingyuan nodded. It seemed Old Liu was indeed a good person and handled things meticulously. Wang Jingyuan then revealed: "Do you remember I mentioned before that the Songshan Sect would try to obstruct Liu Zhengfeng's Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony to suppress Hengshan and intimidate the other three great sects?"

Yue Buqun nodded: "That's indeed how it has been. In recent years, the Songshan Sect has consistently accused their enemies of colluding with the Demonic Cult. However, Immortal Elder... if anyone were to bring up rumors of Liu Zhengfeng colluding with the Demonic Cult later, it would only be a laughing matter."

Wang Jingyuan shook his head: "The Songshan Sect might have been falsely accusing people before, but Liu Zhengfeng's collusion with Qu Yang is indeed true."

Yue Buqun was shocked: "This..."

Wang Jingyuan continued: "I encountered Qu Yang when I entered Hengyang City. Xin'er is Qu Yang's granddaughter."

Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze: "Ah?!"

"Don't be nervous. They genuinely want to leave the Jianghu, there's no conspiracy. After the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony, these two individuals will no longer be in the Jianghu.

Besides, even if there were a conspiracy, my fundamental goal in helping them is to thwart the Songshan Sect's plan and undermine their prestige.

After all, the task you assigned was 'Revitalize Mount Hua.' I've pondered this for a long time. The most obvious obstacle on the path to 'Revitalize Mount Hua' is the Songshan Sect. Attacking the Songshan Sect is always the right move."

As Yue Buqun was secretly weighing Wang Jingyuan's words, someone knocked on the door from outside. Wang Jingyuan glanced outside and saw Yue Lingshan's nameplate.

Yue Buqun recognized his daughter's footsteps and called out, "Come in."

"Dad, you need to control Junior Brother Wang! Do you know he..." Yue Lingshan pushed the door open, ready to complain to her father. Mount Hua already had one drunkard; it couldn't afford another big escort leader. What would Mount Hua become then? Moreover, every time she saw Wang Jingyuan going to a brothel, she felt a sense of unease.

However, she stopped mid-sentence when she saw her parents sitting with Wang Jingyuan, her mother having just handed him a peeled pear.

Yue Buqun, worried that Yue Lingshan might say something offensive to Wang Jingyuan, interrupted her before she could finish: "Jingyuan and I have something to discuss. You should go back for now."

"But I..." Yue Lingshan felt a little wronged, but Yue Buqun immediately cut her off: "Alright, go back now."

Yue Lingshan's lips pouted high, and she kept looking back as she left. Seeing the three of them happily gathered inside, she felt a surge of sadness. We're supposed to be a family of three...

After Yue Lingshan left, Wang Jingyuan continued: "Liu Zhengfeng had also made some preparations. As far as I know, he spent money to buy an official position."

Yue Buqun stroked his beard and nodded: "That is indeed a good method."

"He bought the position of a Brigadier General."

Yue Buqun continued to nod: "A military official."

Wang Jingyuan frowned and emphasized: "He bought the position of a Brigadier General."

Seeing Wang Jingyuan repeatedly mention it, Yue Buqun asked: "Is there something significant about this?"

Wang Jingyuan slapped his own face and grumbled: "You're a scholar, aren't you? Don't you know that a Brigadier General is a third-rank official?! Although they are still subject to the control of civil officials, it is still a substantive third-rank position.

Buying official positions usually results in nominal or honorary posts. It's not impossible to buy a substantive position, but it requires a great deal of expense to obtain a student position at the Imperial Academy or a commander of a thousand troops in a border town.

To buy a substantive third-rank position? Perhaps in another hundred years. But now, if one could buy a substantive third-rank military official with money, the Great Ming would have long been controlled by wealthy merchants!"

"Ah?!" After Wang Jingyuan's explanation, Yue Buqun realized there was a problem.

Wang Jingyuan continued: "The act of buying official positions is already semi-public. There's no need to hide it. As long as someone is determined to investigate, they can find out that Liu Zhengfeng bought an official position.

However, under these circumstances, the Songshan Sect still dared to send people to monitor the Liu residence. Either the channel through which Liu Zhengfeng bought his official position is fake, and it was arranged by the Songshan Sect.

Or, Liu Zhengfeng didn't actually buy an official position at all; he just planned to find some people to put on a show on the day of his Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony to fool you common folk. After all, among the Five Great Sword Sects, you have the highest level of education. Even you didn't notice anything amiss, so fooling others would be even easier."

Yue Buqun frowned: "If you're saying the Songshan Sect hasn't restrained themselves, then Brother Liu's plan this time might not work."

"Not necessarily." Wang Jingyuan shook his head: "I asked Liu Zhengfeng for money, and it should arrive soon. I'll handle this matter then and make it official. Even if it's discovered midway, they'll only suspect I'm helping you buy an official position.

If the Songshan Sect is behind this, then they're in deep trouble. Buying official positions is a business of the imperial court. If they dare to sell counterfeit goods, they must be tired of living.

Even if it's not them, if Liu Zhengfeng's official position truly becomes legitimate, let's see if the Songshan Sect dares to make a move against him. By then, the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony should be quite lively."